Human Development
Knowledge of penetration of minds
Description:
With his own mind, the meditator penetrates the minds of others, understanding their manner of consciousness. Its object or extent depends on the knowledge level reached. If another's sense-sphere consciousness is known, then knowledge has a limited object. If fine-material or immaterial sphere is known, then knowledge has an exalted object. If path and fruition are known, it has a measureless object. Only the consciousness of one at a lesser level can be known, but an arahant knows the consciousness of all. There are also path, past, present, future and external objects. Initially, at the sense-sphere level, the manner of consciousness is known by observing with the divine eye the colour of the blood, this depending on whether consciousness is accompanied by joy, grief or serenity (red, black or clear). Knowledge is then extended to fine-material and immaterial spheres. The different kinds of consciousness, whether profitable, unprofitable or indeterminate are thus known.Context:
One of the five kinds of direct or higher knowledge developed in Hinayana Buddhism.<